What is the cost of a commute?
The average Australian spends $99 on commuting costs every week. How much could you be saving by switching to public transport?
Key takeaways
- Australians average $99 weekly on commutes ($4367 annually), with fuel making up $42 of that cost.
- Brisbane commuters enjoy the lowest public transport costs at $5 weekly due to a flat fare.
- Public transport is often cheaper than driving, potentially saving up to $177 weekly from outer suburbs like Pakenham Melbourne.
We explored how much Australians are spending on their daily commute, the cost of taking public transport versus driving and how our commuting habits have changed.
How much do Australians spend on commuting costs?
According to Finder analysis, the average person spends approximately $99 per week on commuting costs – equivalent to $4,367 per year once public holidays, annual leave and sick leave are taken into account. This includes $42 for fuel, but toll roads, parking and other car ownership costs like car insurance are excluded. Meanwhile, public transport costs Australians $39 per week on average.
We also calculated how much walking and cycling costs you based on caloric output – a single calorie costs around 0.4 cents on average. For the average person, this translates to a cost of $4.57 per week for walking and $1.57 for riding their bike or scooter.
How much does it cost to take public transport to work?
The cost of a commute on public transport varies by city and can cost as much as $55 per week if you're travelling through both zones in Melbourne.
Public transport can cost just $32 per week in Sydney (for less than 3km travelled by bus) or $35 in Perth (for zone 1 travel) and $35 per week in Melbourne (for zone 2 travel).
However, Brisbane is easily the cheapest city to catch public transport to work after the government reduced all fares to a flat rate of 50 cents.
In Adelaide, transport fares stay the same regardless of distance travelled, excluding off-peak and concession fares.
Is it cheaper to take public transport or to drive to work?
To catch the train or to drive in the comfort of your own car? It's a common dilemma and there are pros and cons to both options. In the winter, waiting for your train or bus could have you shivering outside in the cold, but driving usually comes out as the pricier option – especially if you have to pay for parking.
We calculated the cost of driving to work versus taking public transport from major outer city suburbs in several cities.
How have fuel prices changed Australian driving habits?
The price of fuel has risen by 7.5% in the year to July 2026 in the last year, according to the Consumer Price Index. This has increased petrol-related stress for some Australians. This has been an ongoing pattern, as in July 2022, 34% of people ranked petrol as 1 of their top 3 most stressful expenses, before dropping to 15% in February 2025, according to Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker.
Percentage of Australians citing petrol as a cause of financial stress (January 2021 – February 2025)
Sources
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